All Flavor And Health To Your Diet With Hazelnuts

Also known as filberts, hazelnuts are a great health food.  Like most nuts, they have lots of protein.  They also contain a lot of fiber.  To add to their good-for-you status, hazelnuts are full of nutrients like folate (a B vitamin), vitamin E and various antioxidants.  These things are all good for your health.

Try Adding Hazelnuts To Your Diet

Adding hazelnuts to your diet isn't difficult.  One easy was is to use them as a snack, and eat them whole or cracked.  They have a rich flavor most people really enjoy.

Whole, sliced or diced hazelnuts can also be used in such things as:

• bakery
• confectionary
• garnishes
• artesian breads
• entrees
• salads
• soups
• to encrust foods
• cereals
• bars
• dairy products
• decorating cakes
• cookies
• pastries
• candies
• mixed in yogurt.

They impart a wonderful flavor to foods, and can be used any way you would use most nuts.

Hazelnuts Can Be Used Even More Ways

Hazelnuts can be ground to make a butter similar to natural peanut butter.  For instance, hazelnuts are also one of the main ingredients in Nutella spread.  Hazelnut butter is unsweetened, but hazelnut paste has sugar added and is used in bakery icings and fillings, candies and dairy products.

Hazelnuts, when finely ground, make a free flowing meal that can be used as a flour replacer, flavoring and binding agent.  Adding a special flavor, it works well in baked goods.  Add to that, hazelnut meal can replace the carbs and help make baked goods for a low carb diet.

The Best Tips For Selecting And Storing Hazelnuts

Pick nuts that are heavy and full when buying them in the shell.  Whole nuts have the longest shelf life.  The more processed the nuts are, the shorter the shelf life they will have.

Roasting, chopping, slicing, or grinding the nuts just before use will keep them fresh for a longer time.  However, to have processed hazelnuts handy for addition to a huge variety of dishes, then simply roast the kernels, dice and freeze in an airtight container away from foods with strong odors. In the freezer they will keep for over a year, and you can remove the amount you need, bring them to room temperature and use immediately.

Have Some Hazelnuts!

Boost your diet with some healthy hazelnuts.  This good not only tastes good, but it's good for you too!  It's a situation that is win-win, and that makes everyone happy!